Toy building element



Feb. 27, 1923. 1,446,868. w. v. BAKER.

TOY BUILDING ELEMENT.

FILED DEC-5,1921.

' ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 27, 1923.

U N r Ta WEDWORTE V. BAKER, OF DETROIT, MICBCEGAN.

TOY BUILDING ELEMENT.

Application filed December 5, 1921. Serial No. 520,148.

To all whom it may concern! Be it known that I, WEDWORTH V. BAKER, at

citizen of the United States, residin Detroit, county of Wayne, State of chigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Toy Building Elements, and declare the followin to be a full, clear,

and exact description 0 the same, such as.

will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawin s, which form a part of this specification.

y invention relates to toy building elements forthe erection of miniature bridges, buildings, cranes, box cars and similar structures.

It i well known that the principal objection to the usual type of structural steel toys is the result of the employment of bolts, nuts, clips or the like for connecting the respective elements together to form a single unitary structure; these parts being apt to be mislaid or lost thereby rendering the structural elemerts useless and of no effect.

One of the objects therefore of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing objection to the usual type of toy structural elements by providin building units which are in themselves a apted for detachable engagement to each other without the use of bolts, nuts, clips or other separable connecting elements.

A further object of the invention is to adapt the respective elements for connection with other like elements of relatively larger or smaller diameter without employing intermediate enlarging or reducing fittings for connecting said elements together.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention further resides in other details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes may be made in the precise embodiment of the invention without departing from the spiritof the same.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tubular element provided with right and left hand threaded ends ;the threaded portion being preferably rolled, that the threads may be formed upon the inside and outside of the latter.

Figure 2 is a similar view of a nipple also prov1ded with threaded ends.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of an element comprislng a threaded hub portion with radial bores alternately threaded in opposite directions to-receive the end of pipe sections as shown in Figure 1.

F igure 4 is a view of the element shown in Flgure 3, taken at right angles to the latter.

Figure 5 is a segmental element having a threaded hub portion the segment being also provided with radial bores alternately threaded in opposite directions to receive the end of pipe portions as shown in Figure 1.

liigure 6 is an elevation partly in section taken at right angles to Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a circular element provided with a threaded hub and with radial bore alternately threaded in opposite directions to receive the end of the tubular sections.

Figure 8 is a view taken at right angles to F lgure 7 with the same partly in 860131011.

Figure 9 is a 'Y-shaped' element having threaded bores to receive the threaded ends of the tubular element.

Figure 10 is an elevation of the same at right angles thereto.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view through a plurality of tubular sections of relatively difi'erent diameter, screwed together, showing the tubular sections connected together by alternately screwing the respective ends of one section into the inner end of one section and upon the outer end of a connecting tubular section.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view denoting a frame work constructed by assembling a plurality of elements.

Figure l3'is a diagrammatic perspective view of the side frame of a bridge or other structure.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the element shown in Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawings accompanying this specification it will be noted that like reference letters are employed to designate similar arts throughout the several views thus it may be seen that suitable lengths of tubing A, are formed at opposite ends on their inner and outer faces with right and left screw threads A A that they may be screwed into, or upon similar tubular lengths of relatively different diameter, thus a long tapering unitary element may be constructed, as for example a mast or ag pole.

In order that the tubular element A may be joined with like elements extending at an angle thereto, a plurality of fittings (B, C, D, E and F) are provided formed with threaded bores designed to receive the threaded ends of like connecting tubular elements, whereby unitary structures such as bridges, building frames, including roof members, hoisting cranes, box cars or other desired structures may be quickly and, readily assembled,afi'ording the builder instructive entertainment.

While it will be obvious that other fittings may be provided adapted to receive the threaded ends of the tubular elements those shown in the drawings will afi'ord an opportunity to construct an endless number of unitary structures. The nipple B for relatively short connections is provided at each end with a right and left threaded portion similar to the element A. O, is a fitting provided with a right and left threaded hub and projecting bosses extending at right angles to each other, to receive the threaded ends of intersecting tubular sections. D, denotes a segmental fitting comprising a right and left threaded hub D and a plurality of tapped radial bores in its segmental portion to receive the right and left alternately threaded ends of other connecting tubular elements. E, denotes a fitting comprising a right and left threaded hub and a plurality of radial sockets E threaded to receive the end of the tubular element. F, is a Y-shaped element each of its ends having a threaded bore to receive the end of a tubular section. G, designates a pulley supported between the forked members of the element F to receive a hoisting cable or an endless belt. The nipple B may be slightly greater in diameter than the longer tubular elements and may be screwed into the bores of the joint fittings or upon the tubular elements to make up any desired combination of parts. A plurality of the elements A. may be connected together by nipples B;or they may be directly connected together as indicated in Figure 11 and upon being connected with other related parts, a suitable tension neaaece may be obtained between the several connected elements by screwing or unscrewing tharts as required.

? aving thus described my. invention what ll claim is:

1. A toy building element comprising a cylindrical tube screw threaded at its end the screw threads extending from the outside to the inside of the tube, whereby it is adapted to connect with a like threaded tube of relatively larger or smaller diameter.

2. Ato building element comprisin a cylindrlca tube having 'a screw threa ed portion at each end-the screw threaded portion extending from the outside to the inside of the tube, whereby it is adapted to connect with a like threaded tube of relatively larger or smaller diameter.

3. The combination of a toy building element comprising a cylindrical tube screw threaded upon the inside and outside thereof at each end, whereby it may be screwed on the inside or outside of other like tubular elements and in the same plane with the till connecting element and a suitable fitting having a tapped hub portion to receive the aligned tapped ends of a pair of said tubular elements said fitting having also a plurality of screw threaded bores at an an le t0 the axis of its hub portion, whereby l1ke tubular elements may be connected together by the fitting to form a unitary structure.

4:- The combination of a toy building element comprising a cylindrical tube screw threaded upon the inside and outside thereof at each end, whereby it may be screwed on the inside or outside of other like tubular elements and in the same plane with the connecting element and a suitable fitting having a tapped hub portion to receive the aligned tapped ends of a pair of said tubular elements said fitting having also a plurality of bores alternately tapped in opposite directions at an angle to the axis of its hub portion, whereby like tubular elements may be connected together by the fitting to form a unitary structure.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

WEDWO'RTH V. BAR.

Witnesses:

S. E. Tnonms, P. J. M. 

